وجه النادي الأهلي برئاسة الكابتن محمود الخطيب، رسالة تهنئة إلى الجامعة المغربية لكرة القدم بعد الإنجاز التاريخي الذي حققه منتخب المغرب للشباب بتتويجه بكأس العالم تحت 20 عامًا.
ونجح المنتخب المغربي في صناعة التاريخ بعد فوزه المستحق على منتخب الأرجنتين بهدفين دون مقابل، اليوم الاثنين، في نهائي البطولة، ليحصد أسود الأطلس اللقب العالمي في إنجاز غير مسبوق لكرة القدم المغربية والعربية.
وبهذا التتويج أصبح منتخب المغرب أول منتخب عربي يحقق بطولة كأس العالم للشباب تحت 20 عامًا، وثاني منتخب إفريقي يظفر باللقب بعد غانا عام 2009.
طالع أيضًا | لاعب برشلونة السابق يستفز جماهير الأرجنتين بعد تتويج المغرب بكأس العالم للشباب بيان النادي الأهلي
يتقدم النادي الأهلي ومجلس إدارته وأعضاؤه وجماهيره، بخالص التهاني القلبية للأشقاء في المغرب، والجامعة الملكية المغربية لكرة القدم، والمحبين، بمناسبة الإنجاز التاريخي للمنتخب المغربي للشباب الذي شرف الكرة العربية، وفاز ببطولة كأس العالم تحت 20 سنة..
كل الأمنيات للأشقاء في المغرب بدوام التقدم والازدهار.
Liverpool are flying in the Premier League, and Arne Slot will be satisfied with the 12 points claimed from as many available during this early stage of the season.
But each time the Reds have come close to sharing the spoils, with the midweek Champions League victory, Virgil van Dijk thumping home in the dying embers, ensuring Liverpool have left it late to win their fifth match in a row.
Liverpool’s Winning Goals in 25/26
Opponent
Goalscorer
Goal Time
Bournemouth
Federico Chiesa
88′
Newcastle
Rio Ngumoha
90’+10
Arsenal
Dominik Szoboszlai
83′
Burnley
Mohamed Salah
90’+5
Atletico Madrid
Virgil van Dijk
90’+2
Unsustainable? Sure. Although, more importantly, this is the sign of a winning unit, one still acclimatising to a new wave of quality.
Alexander Isak made his debut for the club on Wednesday evening, having joined from Newcastle United for a British record £125m fee on deadline day. Will he reprise his starting berth against David Moyes’ Everton, or should fellow new recruit Hugo Ekitike get the nod?
Who Liverpool should start up front against Everton
It’s the Merseyside derby, and the chances are that Liverpool will face another stern test as they continue to click into gear and push for a second successive Premier League title.
Slot was quizzed on whether Isak or Ekitike would play up top against the Toffees, and his answer was unsurprisingly elusive.
However, it’s rather comforting to know that, throw Cody Gakpo into the mix too, and Liverpool have an abundance of quality ready to shift and change as the manager demands.
This is a team capable of competing for all the major honours this term, to be sure.
Hugo Ekitike replaces Alexander Isak
However, the tale of Liverpool’s tape has indeed been one of late-stage drama, and Slot might actually be forced to turn to another forward on Saturday afternoon, one who might be required to channel his inner Divock Origi, who loved a derby for the Reds.
Liverpool's new Divock Origi
Origi is perhaps the definitive cult hero of modern times for Liverpool, a player who never managed to nail down a starting berth with any regularity but popped up with big goals on numerous occasions.
Divock Origi scores in the Champions League final
Across his Liverpool career, the Belgian striker scored 41 goals and supplied 17 more across 175 matches, notably scoring the wrap-it-up goal in the Champions League final as the Anfield side downed Tottenham Hotspur.
And how he loved to play Everton, notching six goals against the Blues. In fact, his haul of six goals against Liverpool’s rivals is double a host of teams who sit second in his personal scoring chart.
And Federico Chiesa could now step up as Slot’s own version of the 30-year-old, with the Italian having enjoyed something of an early Liverpool rebirth himself so far this season (Origi was loaned out to Wolfsburg after a slow start to his career in England).
Chiesa was Liverpool’s sole summer signing one year ago, and injuries limited him to a bit-part role. However, he has already raised the bar this year, netting the winner as Liverpool beat Bournemouth in their opening Premier League match of the season.
Hailed as a “wizard” for his remarkable performances in his homeland by broadcaster Roger Bennett, Chiesa has rekindled the fire in his belly and looks set to contribute toward the club’s efforts this season.
All eyes will be on Isak for the Merseyside derby, should the record-breaking striker indeed start from the opening. If not him, it’s bound to be Ekitike at number nine.
Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike
But Liverpool’s proclivity, their need, for late goals and the nature of this fixture against Everton suggest that it may once again go down to the wire, and if that is the case, Chiesa’s skills might be needed.
He’s already come up trumps once for Slot’s side this season, and now the dynamic attacker may be called upon again, channelling his inner Origi to perhaps strike late and ensure Liverpool’s flawless start continues.
Would such an outcome really be that surprising at this point?
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Kuldeep was introduced as late as the 11th over, and bowled three wicketless overs for 27 runs
ESPNcricinfo staff30-Apr-20253:06
Ganga; Kuldeep not finishing his overs a missed opportunity
In Delhi Capitals’ (DC) 14-run defeat at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Tuesday, their captain Axar Patel used only three overs of Kuldeep Yadav, India’s premier wristspinner. Not only did DC not use spin in the powerplay, but Kuldeep was introduced as late as the 11th over. KKR eventually posted 79 for 1 in the powerplay, and that platform helped them post 204 for 9, a score that proved to be good enough on the night.Daren Ganga, the former West Indies captain, said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out that Kuldeep is a bowler who must finish his quota every game. He also said that using Kuldeep as a wicket-taking option in the powerplay could have slowed KKR down, and was a gamble worth taking with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane going hard at the other DC bowlers.”Kuldeep not finishing his spell to me was a bit of a missed opportunity,” Ganga said. “When you have a bowler like Kuldeep, regardless of the day he’s having, I’d like to see him exhaust his full complement of overs. That is something he [Axar] could’ve looked at – bowling Kuldeep’s one over earlier on, and then bowling three overs in the middle. That could’ve changed proceedings and probably informed how the other spinners would go on that surface.Related
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“I was having a conversation about teams and their reluctance to use conventional wristspinners in the powerplay phase. To me, if you’re trying to control a phase by taking wickets, that’s an option for you. And then if you know you have an issue with your bowlers not penetrating opposition batters, then I think it is worth a gamble for you to use, at least one over of wristspin in that phase.”Kuldeep finally entered the attack as DC’s sixth bowler, delivering the 11th, 13th, and 15th overs and finishing with figures of 0 for 27. But by then, KKR had already built a strong platform, and even a few hiccups couldn’t derail their momentum. Wasim Jaffer labelled it “strange tactics” not to use Kuldeep up front when DC were clearly in need of a breakthrough while Ambati Rayudu pointed to Kuldeep’s recent success against left-hand batters and said he could have troubled Narine.”Especially today when KKR batsmen were going great guns, I felt they should’ve brought a spinner on for sure. Kuldeep is a wicket-taker and he’s been bowling brilliantly to left-handers of late,” Rayudu said. “He’s been getting the dip now, which wasn’t there in his bowling earlier, and he’s not afraid to bowl googlies to left-handers, and he’s been getting wickets off googlies.”3:56
‘Axar should back himself to bowl in powerplay’
‘Axar could have bowled in the powerplay too’Kuldeep wasn’t DC’s only spin option. Vipraj Nigam was brought on in the seventh over, while Axar bowled four overs on the trot from the eighth to the 14th. Despite being effective, Axar too did not bowl in the powerplay, a surprising decision considering his performance in the powerplay in the previous game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).”I think [Axar could’ve bowled] definitely for an over at least,” Rayudu said. “They were going after pace and you had to slow things down, not only time-wise but also in terms of giving pace to the batsmen. I felt they missed a little trick there.”Axar has also become a much, much better bowler. He bowls the under-cutter, which he bowls to left-handers that goes away. And he has that height where he never bowls too full. I think he definitely should have bowled in the powerplay.”Jaffer served a reminder that Axar dismissed left-handers Jacob Bethell and Devdutt Padikkal against RCB too, nullifying the left-arm spinner to left-hand batter worry that some teams have.”I think he should have used at least one over himself, considering in the last game he got two wickets off left-handers,” Jaffer said. “[Not bowling] against Nicholas Pooran you would understand since Pooran is a different beast altogether, but against all other [left-handed] batters, he should back himself.”Ganga, meanwhile, acknowledged the captain’s dilemma when choosing between backing himself or deploying other bowlers. He said that Dushmantha Chameera’s recent inclusion might have influenced Axar’s choices. Still, he felt captains need to show greater conviction.”If the surface was offering a bit more turn, it might’ve prompted him to bowl in the powerplay phase,” Ganga said. “There are also times, as a captain, you find yourself between a rock and a hard place with you putting yourself as an option compared to using other options.”Chameera has been brought in recently to join this DC side. His USP is bowling in the first and last phase, so he was given an opportunity to, but at times, you have to be more determined, take the game by its horns and back yourself. I think we overrate match-ups, sometimes, bowlers can still trouble batters’ inside edge as well. I think at times captains can be a bit more enterprising and use that option.”
Diego Aguirre é o “plano B” para comandar o Santos, após o clube alvinegro receber a negativa de Mano Menezes, que era a prioridade para substituir Paulo Turra, demitido na manhã deste domingo (6).
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O comitê gestor santista decidiu avançar nas buscas pelo uruguaio, por ser um nome com mais consenso entre o grupo. Outras opções, como Rogério Ceni e Thiago Carpini, também foram discutidas, mas dividiram opiniões entre os gestores.
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Nas últimas semanas, o Peixe já havia buscado informações sobre Aguirre, que foi demitido do Olímpia, do Paraguai, no mês passado, por conta dos maus resultados no campeonato paraguaio, onde os decanos estavam na penúltima colocação. Essas consultas foram feitas por um intermediário, que já recebeu “sinal verde” para ajudar o Alvinegro Praiano nas negociações.
Ainda que o último trabalho de Diego Aguirre tenha sido ruim, a avaliação do desempenho do uruguaio enquanto trabalhou no Brasil é positiva. O técnico já trabalhou no Atlético-MG, Internacional e São Paulo em território brasileiro.
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O próximo passo para que a situação com Aguirre avance é o acerto salarial. Com a definição pelo nome para dirigir o clube alvinegro, o projeto e, principalmente, as questões salariais serão discutidas entre a diretoria santista e o estafe do treinador.
Além dos times brasileiros já citados, Diego Aguirre já comandou: Cruz Auzul (México); Al-Gharafa e Al-Rayyan (Qatar); San Lorenzo (Argentina); Allianza Lima (Peru); Aucas (Equador); Peñarol, Montevideo Wanderes e Plaza Colônia (Uruguai); e seleção uruguaia sub-20.
كرر الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، فوزه أمام إيجل نوار البوروندي، ضمن مباريات إياب دور الـ32 من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بهدف نظيف.
واستضاف الأهلي نظيره إيجل نوار، على ملعب استاد القاهرة، في إياب دور الـ32 من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.
طالع.. فيديو | عمر كمال يسجل هدف الأهلي الأول أمام إيجل نوار
ولعب الأهلي بعشرة لاعبين منذ الدقيقة 16 من عمر الشوط الاول، بعدما حصل جراديشار على طرد من حكم مباراة إيجل نوار، بعد احتكاك بدون كرة مع لاعب المنافس.
وجاء الهدف عن طريق عمر كمال عبد الواحد في الدقيقة 58 من تمريرة من محمد علي بن رمضان قابلها عمر كمال بقدمه في الشباك.
وكان الأهلي قد حقق الفوز في مباراة الذهاب بهدف دون رد، على إيجل نوار، السبت الماضي، ليصعد لدور المجموعات في دوري أبطال إفريقيا بنتيجة 2-0 بمجموع المباراتين. أهداف مباراة الأهلي وإيجل نوار اليوم في دوري أبطال إفريقيا
Rana back in the T20I side; maiden T20I call-ups for Kranti Goud, Sayali Satghare, N Shree Charani and Shuchi Upadhyay
S Sudarshanan15-May-2025
Shafali Verma returned to the T20I squad for the first time since October 2024•AFP/Getty Images
Shafali Verma has been named in India’s T20I squad for the first time since the Women’s T20 World Cup last year, while Sneh Rana, too, makes it for the first time since the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup. They are part of the 15-member T20I squad for the white-ball tour of England that starts on June 28.Seam-bowling allrounders Kranti Goud and Sayali Satghare, and left-arm spinners N Shree Charani and Shuchi Upadhyay received their maiden T20I call-ups. Shree Charani and Upadhyay were part of the ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka that India won earlier this week. Goud was called-up to that squad after Kashvee Gautam was ruled out midway because of a leg injury.Related
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Shafali was out of the national side after ODI series at home against New Zealand last year. She went back to domestic cricket and scored heavily – leading run-getter in the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy (527 runs, 152.31 strike rate, 75.29 average) and the Senior Women’s One Day Challenger Trophy (414 runs, 145.26 strike rate, 82.80 average) – while captaining Haryana. She also scored 304 runs (fourth-most in the season) from nine innings at a strike rate of 152.76 for Delhi Capitals in WPL 2025.Following her ODI debut, Kranti Goud received her maiden T20I call-up for the England tour•SLC
Rana, on the other hand, has forced her way into the T20I setup following her performance in WPL 2025, where she was drafted in by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the injured Shreyanka Patil. Rana picked up six wickets in five matches and almost helped RCB qualify for the playoffs when she hit Deepti Sharma for 26 runs in an over against UP Warriorz. She is not part of BCCI’s centrally-contracted players but was the Player of the Series in the ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka. Patil, who picked up an injury at the T20 World Cup last year, is yet to be given clearance by BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (formerly the National Cricket Academy).Harleen Deol, who is a regular No. 3 in the ODI side, is back in the T20I side for the first time since July 2024. She was Gujarat Giants’ third-highest run-getter in WPL 2025, scoring 232 runs at a strike rate of 120.83. Raghvi Bist, Uma Chetry and Minnu Mani, who all played in India’s last T20I assignment against West Indies at home, do not feature in the England-bound squad.Despite the strong showing, Shafali continues to miss out from India’s ODI squad, that is largely unchanged following their strong tri-series showing. Satghare is the only addition to the team that won the competition. She made her ODI debut against Ireland at home earlier this year and took three wickets in three matches.Pratika Rawal, who averages 63.80 in 11 ODIs, is the designated opening partner for Smriti Mandhana with Deol backed to bat one-drop. Yastika Bhatia will be the back-up wicketkeeper for Richa Ghosh while Maharashtra’s Tejal Hasabnis is the spare batter in the ODI setup.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Shree Charani and Upadhyay, who finished third on the wickets tally and was the Player of the Tournament as Madhya Pradesh won the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy last year for the first time, are part of the spin department headed by Deepti and Rana.There was no word on fast bowlers Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar and Titas Sadhu, who were left out of the tri-series squad because of injury.India Women will play five T20Is followed by three ODIs on the tour that overlaps with the men’s five-match Test series. As per the women’s future tours programme, this is India’s last ODI series ahead of the Women’s World Cup they would be hosting later this year.India squad for the women’s T20I series against EnglandHarmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, N Shree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Goud, Sayali SatghareIndia squad for the women’s ODI series against EnglandHarmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare
O Corinthians está prestes a acertar a venda do atacante Adson para o Nantes, da França. A equipe europeia já conseguiu convencer o clube alvinegro e o jogador a aceitar a oferta, e estão apenas pendentes detalhes burocráticos para a assinatura do contrato, que deve acontecer nesta semana.
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O jogador está animado com a possibilidade de atuar na Europa, enquanto o Timão chegou ao valor desejado para vendê-lo. Os franceses pagarão 5 milhões de euros (R$ 27 milhões, na cotação atual) por 50% dos direitos econômicos do atleta, que tem 70% do ‘passe’ pertencentes ao clube do Parque São Jorge.
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Quando renovou o contrato de Adson no início deste ano, a diretoria corintiana deixou claro para o estafe do atacante que só o venderia por 10 milhões de euros (R$ 54 milhões atualmente). Assim, em termos contábeis, o time alvinegro receberá proporcionalmente o que desejava para ceder o ativo.
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A questão principal que será discutida neste domingo (20) para que o acordo seja fechado é como o lucro da operação será distribuído entre o clube e o atleta, que possui 30% dos seus direitos econômicos.
A primeira opção é o jogador permanecer com a parte que possui do seu percentual, principalmente devido ao seu interesse no fechamento do negócio. A segunda opção é que cada parte ceda 50% do que possui. Assim, o Timão passaria a ter 35% da parte econômica de Adson, enquanto o jogador transferiria 15%. A divisão ficaria da seguinte forma: Nantes com 50%, Corinthians com 35% e Adson com 15%.
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A tendência, no entanto, é que o primeiro formato seja escolhido, com a divisão se tornando: 50% para o time francês, 30% para o atleta e 20% para a equipe alvinegra.
Pessoas ligadas ao Nantes procuraram o estafe de Adson há alguns dias para saber da viabilidade do negócio, o que prontamente interessou ao jogador e seus representantes. Até então, nenhuma proposta formal havia sido apresentada ao clube do Parque São Jorge, o que aconteceu hoje.
Inicialmente, o valor que os franceses queriam pagar era de 5 milhões de euros (R$ 27 milhões) pela totalidade dos direitos econômicos do atacante, o que foi descartado pela direção corintiana. No entanto, a oferta foi modificada para o mesmo valor, mas agora por 50% do ‘passe’, o que agradou aos alvinegros em um segundo momento.
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Desde que foi promovido ao elenco profissional corintiano em 2021, esta é a primeira vez que Adson recebe uma proposta formal do exterior. Houve sondagens em algumas ocasiões, mas que não se concretizaram em ofertas diretas ao time do Parque São Jorge. A multa do jogador para o mercado externo está fixada em 50 milhões de euros (R$ 270,6 milhões na cotação atual).
O fato de ter recebido apenas um documento de interesse pelo camisa 28 em três temporadas, período em que o jogador está no elenco principal, é um dos grandes motivos para que a diretoria do Corinthians esteja inclinada a fechar com o Nantes. A postura é diferente, por exemplo, em relação às investidas pelo zagueiro Murillo, que só será vendido por mais 20 milhões de euros (R$ 108,2 milhões) e somente se o interessado aceitar liberá-lo no ano que vem. Isso porque em relação ao defensor há confiança de que novas propostas com valores altos aparecerão em um futuro próximo.
أعلن أيمن الرمادي المدير الفنى لفريق الكرة الأول بنادي البنك الأهلي عن تشكيل لاعبيه لمواجهة الزمالك، ضمن مباريات الجولة الثانية عشر من عمر مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز موسم 2025/2026.
ويواجه فريق البنك الأهلي نظيره فريق البنك الأهلي، في تمام الساعة الثامنة من مساء اليوم الخميٍس، على ملعب القاهرة الدولي.
طالع.. تشكيل الزمالك أمام البنك الأهلي في الدوري.. الدباغ يقود الهجوم تشكيل البنك الأهلي أمام الزمالك في الدوري
حراسة المرمى: عبد العزيز البلعوطي.
خط الدفاع: عمرو الجزار، مصطفى الزناري، هشام صلاح، إسحاق يعقوبو.
خط الوسط: محمد فتحي، محمد إبراهيم، محمد بن شرقي، مصطفى شلبي.
خط الهجوم: أحمد ياسر ريان، أسامة فيصل.
ويجلس على مقاعد البدلاء: “أحمد صبحي، سعيدو سيمبوري، مصطفى دويدار، أحمد مدبولي، يسري وحيد، أحمد النادري، محمود الجزار، ياو انور، سيد نيمار”.
Arsenal’s Premier League title charge continued on Saturday afternoon, with the Gunners breezing to a comfortable 2-0 win over a struggling West Ham United side at the Emirates.
For all the difference in form and momentum between the two teams, the hosts may well have feared yet another slip up against the Hammers, with even Graham Potter having overseen a win over the north Londoners for the visitors last season.
Thankfully, there was to be no repeat performance this time around, with goals from Declan Rice – haunting his former side yet again – and England colleague Bukayo Saka proving enough on a serene day for Mikel Arteta and co.
That Three Lions pairing remain central to everything good about the Gunners, although there is a new contender quietly emerging to be the club’s most consistent performer.
How Saka & Rice stole the show vs West Ham
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta chuckled at the memory of deploying a teenage Saka at left-back all those years ago, with Saturday having marked the Hale End graduate’s 200th Premier League appearance for the club.
The younger Saka was bright and exciting even at full-back, although the present-day version is a different proposition altogether. There’s just no stopping him when he’s at his best.
Having netted in fine fashion against Olympiakos in midweek, the 24-year-old got in on the act again after converting from the penalty spot to wrap up all three points, with the wideman stepping up to the plate ahead of summer signing Viktor Gyokeres.
That second-half strike had come following Rice’s fine effort before the break, with the marauding midfielder firing home on the rebound against his previous employers for his 17th goal for the club on his 113th outing. Remarkably, he only scored 15 times in 245 games for the Irons.
It wasn’t just that goal which was impressive about the Englishman’s performance either, with Rice also coming close to picking out that man Gyokeres, following a trademark surging run down the left.
Saka & Rice vs West Ham
Stat
Saka
Rice
Minutes played
90
79
Touches
49
81
Pass accuracy
78%
92%
Goals
1
1
Assists
0
0
Key passes
2
3
Duels won
5/13
2/3
Successful dribbles
0/3
2/3
Stats via Sofascore
That was one of three key passes that he provided in all, as per Sofascore, ahead of Saka’s own tally of two, with the compatriots once again showcasing their importance to this quality outfit.
Arsenal's contender for player of the season
Injury has hampered Saka’s impact thus far in 2025/26, while Saturday’s strike marked Rice’s first of the campaign, having been unable to replicate the heights of that night against Real Madrid last season.
Neither man has quite been at their brilliant best in the early weeks of the season, although one man who has put in stellar performance after stellar performance is Jurrien Timber, with the Dutchman simply a monster at right-back once again.
The man who earned the penalty which allowed Saka to convert on his milestone outing, the former Ajax defender was a constant outlet down that right flank, racking up 72 touches in total, while providing one key pass as he looked to impact proceedings in the final third.
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Also involved in the build-up to Ricardo Calafiori’s strike in first-half added time, having combined nicely with Saka inside the area, Timber represents the perfect all-rounder, having long surplanted Ben White in that right-back role.
Adept in attack but also a warrior defensively, the Netherlands international again gave short shrift to the West Ham forward line, winning eight of his contested duels, including making six tackles.
A key cog in an Arsenal backline that simply loves to defend first and foremost, it is no surprise that the Gunners are now reportedly looking to extend his contract, having already secured William Saliba’s future this week.
As noted by the Standard’s Simon Collings, who dished out an 8/10 match rating, it was another ‘top performance’ from the £38m man, having now started all six league games since the opening weekend win against Manchester United.
Lauded by podcaster Adam Keys as having “quietly become one of Arsenal’s most important players”, Timber must surely be near the top of the pile when pondering the Gunners’ player of the season so far.
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Seamer’s inclusion sparked debate about tactics and transformation – but he answered them on day two at Lord’s
Firdose Moonda12-Jun-20251:16
Steyn: All Ngidi needed was a wicket to find his rhythm
Lungi Ngidi insisted that he knew why he was selected in South Africa’s World Test Championship final XI, after he took 3 for 35 on the second day to break Australia’s second innings open.Temba Bavuma had said that Ngidi was picked for his pace and ability to generate extra bounce – “a tactical decision”, which is exactly what Ngidi understood his role to be.”It’s been a very long time since I’ve played Test cricket, ten months, and that’s okay with me,” Ngidi told BBC after play on day two at Lord’s. “Obviously I know why I was selected. It doesn’t make a difference to me: opinions, or whatever it is. I was just struggling with a bit of rhythm from this side, swapped ends, and I felt a lot better.”Related
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Ngidi last played a Test against West Indies in August last year and looked rusty on comeback in this match. On the first day, he bowled eight overs, in spells of four each, from the Pavillion End and conceded 45 runs at 5.62. Notably, he lacked intensity and left the field for a period of time after bowling his second spell. He returned but did not bowl again.Considering Dane Paterson’s history of success in county cricket (though his 180 wickets came for Nottinghamshire and not Middlesex) and the overhead conditions that would have suited a bowler of his style, there were justifiable questions over whether South Africa had made a tactical blunder. There was also talk about whether they were forced to pick Ngidi to meet transformation requirements.But, at the end of day two, Ngidi had provided three stunning answers as to why he had been picked. In a nine-over spell – his second longest in Test cricket – Ngidi removed Steven Smith and Beau Webster, both lbw, and yorked Pat Cummins. Australia went from 48 for 3 to 73 for 7 (Wiaan Mulder took a wicket in that period too) and South Africa were back in the game. It looked as though Shukri Conrad, the head coach who is also the sole selector, had seen his gamble come off.Lungi Ngidi got the big wicket of Steven Smith•AFP/Getty Images
But Ngidi’s choice of words in his post-match interview – “I know why I was selected” – didn’t help dispel any lingering doubts about why he was picked. ESPNcricinfo has since confirmed he was referring to the plethora of opinions preferring Paterson’s skills to his.There was also no transformation imperative to pick Ngidi as South Africa’s targets at national level are calculated on average over the course of a season, which means they do not apply to individual games. The target numbers require that the team fields six players of colour of which two must be black African. In Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada, the latter is met. They only have two other players of colour in this XI, Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj, and that would have remained the case even if Paterson was picked instead of Ngidi. While they have not fulfilled their target in this match, their overall average will only be confirmed at the end of the season.Before the final, Bavuma spoke to ESPNcricinfo about the dangers of being labelled a transformation selection, how he did not understand why it was put on him nine years ago when he made his first century, and the pressure and expectation it created. In the same way, Ngidi’s poor performance on day one immediately raised the transformation question: a hangover from the way South African cricket is perceived because of selection decisions in the past.The 2015 World Cup semi-final, where CSA influenced the inclusion of Vernon Philander ahead of Kyle Abbott, is a standout example, not least because it happened in a crucial game. But Ngidi, an international cricketer for the last eight years and comfortable within himself, was able to put that aside and concentrate on getting things right on day two.Radaba suggested a “steak, a milkshake and a movie” to Ngidi on the first evening but it turned out to be a change of ends that did the trick. Ngidi bowled from the Nursery End on day two, running up the slope, and was far more effective. His lines were tighter and his lengths more concentrated, mostly just back of good, with the occasional fuller ball for variety. He seemed in the zone, ran in with good energy and looked like he wanted more.”Once you get a moment like that, you don’t want to really let it go because it could change the game,” he said. “So I just kept going until my legs pretty much told me that’s enough now. I was planning on going a little bit more, but once you start making a few errors that could let the team or the opposition in, then it’s probably time to call it.”2:43
Can South Africa chase down 200-plus?
There was one overpitched ball in Ngidi’s seventh over and two edges that dropped short in his eighth and ninth, so he was still effective but clearly tiring. When he ran to field a ball in the over after he had finished his spell, he puffed his way to the ball and the decision to stop was probably the correct one. Nevertheless, his team-mates appreciated the effort especially after a tough first day.”Lungi’s a chilled guy, so I don’t think it would have affected him that much,” David Bedingham said at the post-match press conference. “As soon as he changed ends, he looked a lot more comfortable and for him to bowl nine overs on the bounce takes a massive amount of effort.”Of the rewards he had, Ngidi enjoyed Smith’s wicket the most “because he did get the better of me in the first innings but Beau Webster as well because they were definitely putting me under pressure”. “But once I got a bit of rhythm and the ball was moving around a bit, I felt very confident.”There may still be some work to do for Ngidi on the third morning, with South Africa still two wickets from knowing their target. Ngidi hopes they can keep the target to 225 and even if it grows beyond that thinks, “people are going to get their money’s worth”.”It’s in the balance right now,” he said. “But I think we’re in a decent position.”